the art of storytelling – in any medium

Character Interview: Anna Winters

Last but not least in our character interview extravaganza is an interview with Anna Winters, the heroine of Donna Thorland’sThe Dutch Girl, a swashbuckling romantic tale of the American Revolution. It’s an exciting read, with espionage, derring-do, witches, arrogant redcoats, patroons lording it over feudal manors in the Hudson Valley, and cookies. Ms. Winters is a woman of few words, but let’s welcome her to the blog!

***

If you had a free day with no responsibilities and your only mission was to enjoy yourself, what would you do?

Go fishing with my husband.

What are you most proud of about your life?

I’m proud of starting a school and providing women with an education.

What was the happiest time of your life?

Being a teacher and running my own school.

What about the lowest point?

Losing my father.

If you could spend the day with someone you admire (living or dead or imaginary), whom would you pick?

I’d like to meet Mary Robinson. [Editor’s note: Not the President of Ireland. Mary Robinson was an actress, dramatist and poet, called the “English Sappho;” she was also the mistress of the Prince Regent and the notorious soldier Banastre Tarleton, who appears in The Dutch Girl.]

Is there anything you’ve always wanted to do but haven’t done? What would happen if you did it?

I’d like to travel to Europe. I expect international relations would suffer.

What is your greatest fear?

Spiders.

How do you feel about your life right now? What, if anything, would you like to change?

I’d like to see greater equality for working people.

What do you consider your greatest achievement?

Starting my school.

What is your idea of perfect happiness?

It’s complicated, but cookies are involved. [Editor’s note: Preferably those with cardamom and orange-water. Check the link for a great recipe!]

***

There are still a couple of days left in the March Mayhem giveaway: win a whole bucketload of free books to read and enjoy, including The Dutch Girl and many others, as well as artwork and other book-related goodies. So what are you waiting for? Go forth and enter!